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Dimensions: Typically 3-4 feet in height; to 6 feet when in flower. About as broad as tall.
Growth Rate: Moderate.
Range:
Widespread in eastern and central North America south to Miami-Dade County and the Monroe County mainland; West Indies, Mexico, Central America and South America.
Soils: Moist to wet, moderately well-drained to poorly-drained sandy, organic, or limestone soils, with humusy top layer.
Nutritional Requirements: Moderate; can grow in nutrient poor soils, but needs some organic content to thrive.
Salt Water Tolerance: Low; does not tolerate flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance: Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.
Drought Tolerance: Moderate to low; requires moist to wet soils, but tolerant of short periods of drought once established.
Light Requirements: Full sun to light shade.
Flower Color: Anthers orange, stigma purple.
Flower Characteristics: Semi-showy inflorescence.
Flowering Season: Spring-fall.
Fruit: Inconspicuous caryopsis.
Wildlife and Ecology:Larval host plant for clouded skipper (Lerema accius) and three-spotted skipper (Cymaenes tripunctus) butterflies. Provides seeds and insects for birds.
Horticultural Notes: Can be grown from seed and division.
References: Nelson 2003
Comments: See a 2019 post on the Treasure Coast Natives blog on Fakahatchee Grass (Eastern Gama Grass) and it’s relation to corn.
Map of select IRC data from peninsular Florida.
Map of suggested ZIP codes from South Florida north to southern Brevard, Osceola, Polk, and Pasco counties.
